Americans have been conditioned to believe our constitutional co-equal branches of government and the wisdom of the Founding Fathers safely immunize the U.S. democracy against tyranny. Despotism is for those far-off countries populated by rabble that are led like sheep by goose-stepping generalissimos.
It could never happen here, right?
But consider political science's definition of tyranny: "A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator ... not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc."
Is this not what's happening with the collapse of government in Washington?
What we're seeing are the chilling, nearly fulfilled dreams of the Machiavellian White House architect of deceit, Karl Rove, who vowed to deliver the nation to control of a single political party (Republican), and Vice President Cheney, who promised overwhelming power for the presidency.
Their blueprint was clear.
Use a shallow, uniformed, feckless, willing front man to act out a daily script of pretense and duplicity. George W. Bush would do.
Create a monster to permanently paralyze politicians and the pubic with fear. Taking the country to war and spreading fanciful, sinister, unproven bogeyman reports of terrorists lurking everywhere would do.
Silence critics in media and political opposition. Have the White House press secretary and the attorney general condemn criticism of the commander in chief as tantamount to treason and encouraging the enemy.
Instruct the cardboard front man, President Bush, to strut and recite slogans designed to inspire awe—"Mission Accomplished!"; "I'm the decider!"; "I'm a war president!"; "Bring 'em (terrorists) on!"; "My job is to protect Americans."
Seize and devote the nation's financial assets to war to finance the permanent image of a gunslinger president, while shortchanging his country's at-home needs.
Ignore laws protecting civil liberties with the complicity of a corrupt attorney general and dare critics to take the "war president" to court.
Pack the U.S. Supreme Court with doctrinaire conservative justices who agree the presidency needs more power.
Cower the feeble, trembling, utterly irrelevant Democratic leaders, House Speaker Pelosi, a narcissistic clothes horse with a fixed grin and not much else; and Senate Majority Leader Reid, who's always on the verge of dozing off and not knowing where he is, by demanding more reduced constitutional protections in the name of fighting terrorists.
Our forebears warned us about this.
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
The late Justice Louis Brandeis: "The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal ... "
